Time for the first edition of the Triple Option, my review of all things college football related. We’ll start with my unofficial top-25 teams for this upcoming season in some order.
When you get past the top-10 its unpredictable, especially in the preseason. I’m pretty confident in my top five or six teams but beyond that, who knows. Let’s start with #25 West Virginia.
Music to listen to: Why Georgia Why by Brad Paisley and John Mayer
Paisley is a native of West Virginia and also an alum of Belmont University, my alma mater as well, so I’m a fan.
Current state of the program: Out of the shadows of Rich Rodriguez came a squad led by head coach Bill Stewart. I was extremely skeptical when they made him the permanent coach after the Mountaineers upset over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl three years ago. However, Stewart has led them to consecutive nine-win seasons.
In relation to the rest of the Big East, you can argue that they are the best program in the conference and been the most consistent in the past five years even though you have to give consideration to Cincinnati. For this year, its probably going to come down to WVU and Pitt in the Backyard Brawl to determine the conference champs.
Defense: The defense returns a lot of starters, including seven seniors.. The Mountaineers run a 3-3-5 defense and have potential all-conference performers such as Keith Tandy and Brandon Hogan in the secondary. The best player in the front six is probably Julian Miller.
Offense: Noel Devine is arguably the top offensive player in the Big East and can be a dark horse for the Heisman. They do lose the efficient Jarrett Brown at quarterback and replace him with Geno Smith, an unproven sophomore.
The offensive line was a weak point last year giving up over 20 sacks a year ago but return four starters. That continuity will be important if they want to contend for the Big East.
The Schedule:
9-4-10 Coastal Carolina
9-10-10 @Marshall (Fri.)
9-18-10 Maryland
9-25-10 @LSU
10-9-10 UNLV
10-14-10 USF (Thurs.)
10-23-10 Syracuse
10-29-10 @Connecticut (Fri.)
11-13-10 Cincinnati
11-20-10 @Louisville
11-26-10 @Pittsburgh
12-4-10 Rutgers
The schedule is not impossible but not easy. They should most likely be 3-0 heading into Baton Rouge to face LSU. If they can beat the Tigers, big things can be in store. Connecticut will be dicey on the road as well as Louisville. WVU can be 9-1 heading into Pitt.
Favorite all-time player: I was tempted to take Major Harris but the Syracuse fan in me won’t allow that. I’ll take Pat White.
Most famous alum: Probably has to be Jerry West. He is maybe a top-ten all-time NBA player, the logo for the league was modeled after him, one of the top executives ever in the sport and not too bad of a college player.
Cebribrity Crush: Cheryl Hines
Prediction: 9-3
I see losses to LSU, Connecticut and Pitt. Still a good overall season but just falling short of a Big East title.
The Sports Inquirer 
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